Making the case for...

Adolescent Health Care

PREAMBLE

NYSCAP has adopted and recommends that all of the following standards be applied to any legislation, policies, and programs related to Adolescent Health Care.

GOAL:  To ensure that all young people are afforded medical, emotional and social well-being.

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STANDARDS

· Services are:

• Comprehensive and focus on prevention as well as treatment concerns.

• Accessible and affordable

• Comfortable and welcoming to young people.

• Delivered with privacy and respect for the individual in mind.

• Ensure the availability of caring and knowledgeable adults for young people to talk to regarding health decisions.

• Include counseling for adolescents on how to talk with parents and other caring adults about health decisions.

• Educate and train parents to talk to their children.

• Services for at risk youth must include family life education and family planning.

• Services contain no procedures or requirements that result in the delay of the provision of services

• Services work to help teens make decisions that take into account cultural, moral, and religious upbringing.

Sexuality Education

PREAMBLE

NYSCAP has adopted and recommends the application of the following for all legislation, policies  and programs related to sexuality education.

GOAL:  To ensure that all young people are knowledgeable and able to make informed decisions regarding  sexuality, relationships and life choices.

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STANDARDS

All communities and their schools must adopt and implement sexuality education, support services and programs, which meet the following standards:

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They are:

• Comprehensive (including human development, sexuality, abstinence, and reproductive health and contraception).

• Reflective of contemporary society

•  Respectful of diverse cultures, lifestyles and changing families

•  Developmentally appropriate.

• Span pre-K through 12th grade and are presented sequentially.

• Offer programs that support parents as the primary sex educators of their children

• Offer programs that deal with safe and healthy relationships and the prevention of abuse.

• Ensure presenters who are knowledgeable, comfortable, approachable, non-judgmental, accessible, willing and accurate

•  evidenced-based or promising: that is, programs have demonstrated effectiveness to change sexual risk-taking behavior over time, or they include characteristics of effective programs.